Electrical through-wall outlet



Oct. 17, 1961 D. J. MILLER, SR

ELECTRICAL THROUGH-WALL OUTLET IN VE N 7'0 R. David J Ali/l0; 6'): 8). 7

Filed Dec. 10, 1958 Min ess.

4 mom/5x United States PatentOfiice 3,005,037 Patented Oct. 17, '1961 3,005,037 ELECTRICAL THROUGH-WALL OUTLET David J. Miller, Sr., 912 S. 113th St., Omaha, Nebr.

Filed Dec. 10, 1958, Ser. No. 779,313 2 Claims. (Cl. 174-49) This invention relates to electrical outlets and more particularly to electrical outlets that pass transversely through building walls.

Modern living requires outdoor electrical socket connections for lighting, electrical garden and lawn tools, electrically powered spits for outdoor charcoal burners and like. However, most homes do not have such outlets and the common practice is to run an electric lead wire line through a window or door. Obviously, this is most objectionable and is dangerous. The few homes that do have outdoor electrical outlets were so. constructed at times of building, or if later installed entailed considerable expense and labor.

Therefore, one of the principal objects of my invention is to provide a simple electrical outlet that may be easily extended transversely through the wall of a com pleted building or through the wall of a building under construction.

More specifically, the object of this invention is to provide an electrical connector unit that may be extended through a simple hole passing through the wall.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an electrical unit adapted for passing through a wall that does not damage the wall or permit rain, snow, air or like to pass into the hole from either side.

Still further objects of my invention are to provide an electrical outlet unit passable through a wall hole extending laterally of the wall, that is economical in manufacture, durable in use, and refined in appearance.

skilled in the art.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangements, and combination, of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, specifically pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. -1 is a perspective exploded view of my unit, and

FIG. 2 is a reduced side view of my electrical connector installed and ready for use.

In the drawings I have used the numeral to designate a section of an ordinary building wall. To install my device through the wall 10, it is only necessary to drill a hole 11 transversely through the wall and extend the unit through the hole. I have used the numeral 12 to designate a pipe conduit. Adjustably detachably threaded on the end of the conduit that extends inside the building is a cup portion 13. Adjustably detachably threaded on the other or outside end portion of the conduit is a cup portion 15. In the cup portion 13 is an ordinary plug 16 of an electric separable plug connection. In the cup portion is an ordinary electric socket 17. To electrically shield the plug and socket from the metallic cup portions of the devices, each is embraced by the usual non-conductive jacket 18. The plug and socket are retained in their respective cup portions by any suitable means such as screws 19. Both the socket 17 and plug 16 are of standard construction and each one adapted to have two electric lead wires connected to their two contact terminals, respectively. In the drawings I use the numerals 20 and 21 to designate two ordinary lengths of flexible electric lead wires, having their lengths insulated and their ends electrically secured to the socket 17 and plug 16. These two lead Wires extend between the socket and plug by passing through the conduit 12 but have lengths much longer than that '35 These and other objects will be apparent to those.

of the conduit as shown in FIG. 1. Adjacent the back of the cup member -13 and embracing the conduit is a flexible waterproof washer 23 of rubber or like. Adjacent the back of the cup member 15 and embracing the conduit is a like washer 25. Each of the cup member portions is identical. Each has a radially extending flange 26 at its open end. Each flange has one or more notches 27.

For appearances, safety, and protection from the elements, I provide a closing .cap lid 30. Each of these cap lid hoods 30 is identical and each has at least one radially inwardly extending lug 31 as shown in FIG. 1. In order that these caps will not become misplaced I flexibly secure one to each of the cup portions by a chain 46. To place a cap lid onto a cup portion for closing the same, the cap lid is placed onthe cup portion so that the lug or lugs 31 pass through the notch or notches 27, after which the cap is rotated to bring its lugs back of the flange 26and into secure locking condition. An insulating washer 35 may be in each of the cap lids.

To install my unit, at least one of the cup portions and its socket and adjacent washer are detached from the conduit. The conduit is then extended through the hole 11 in the wall, and the washer, cup portion and socket reattached. By screw tightening the cup portions on the conduit the unit will be bolt tightened to the wall with the adjacent washers 23 and 25 engaging the wall and hermetically sealing the hole 11 through the wall. The electric socket portion will be at the outer side of the wall and the electric plug portion will be at the inner side of the wall. In order that the unit will fit substantially any wall thickness, the conduit is at time of manufacture of maximum length with considerable length area threaded. If at time of installation, the conduit is too long, it is cut oil at a suitable length for that particular wall thickness. 9 s

The installation of my unit is so easy, it does not require the services of a skilled workman. When it is desired to use my outdoor electrical connection, an ordinary electric cord 36 having a plug end and a socket end is used. The plug end of the cord is inserted into any available wall outlet socket 159 and its socket portion connected to the plug of the cup 13, as shown in FIG. 2. After such a hook-up the unit will obviously be electrically connected to a source of electrical energy, and to use the electrical energy for outdoor purpose, the cap of the outside cup portion 15 is removed and the electric plug of the appliance to be energized is inserted into the socket of the cup portion 15. After use, the cap lid should be replaced into the cup portion 15. When the electric cord 36 is not in use, it may be removed and the inside cup portion closed by its cap lid.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of my electrical outlet without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims, any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim:

1. In combination, a wall of a building, an electric socket in an area to the inner side of the wall and adapted to be in communication with a source of electricity, a conduit extending through said wall and at a point spaced apart from said socket, a cup portion threaded on the inner end of said conduit, acup portion threaded on the outer end of said conduit, a resilient washer em-,

in said conduit electrically connecting said plug and said socket that are in said cup portions, an electric cord, an electric plug on one end of said cord detachably engaging said first electric socket that is in the area to the interior of said Wall, and an electric socket on the other end of said cord, detachably engaging the said plug that is in said first cup portion.

2. In combination, a wall of a building, an electric socket in an area to the inner side of the wall and adapted to be in communication with a source of electricity, a conduit extending through said wall and :at a point spaced apart from said socket, a cup portion threaded on the inner end of said conduit, a cup portion threaded on the outer end of said conduit, a resilient washer embracing saidconduit and between said first cup portion and said wall, a resilient washer embracing said conduit and between the second cup portion and said wall, anelectric-al plug in said first cup portion, an electrical socket in said second cup portion, electrical lead wires in said conduit electrically connecting said plug and said socket that are in said cup portions, an electric cord, an electric plug on one end of said cord detachably engaging said first 4 electric socket that is in the area to the interior of said wall, an electric socket on the other end of said cord, detachably engaging the said plug that is in said first cup portion, and a detachable cap for each of said cup portions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,918,070 Watts July 11, 1933 1,977,378 'Doane Oct. 16,1934 2,035,657 Kottem'ann ..Mar. 31, 1936 2,190,363 Knapp Feb. 13, 1940 2,344,800 Butcher Mar. 21, 1944 2,603,682 Uline et a1; July 15, 1952 OTHER REFERENCES Publication 1, Wall-Thru, Mosley advertisement, Radios Master, catalogue, 18th edition, 1953-54, page T-35.

Publication II, Walsco Universal Feed-Thr'u Bushing, Walsco advertisement, Radios Master, catalogue, 18th edition, 195354,-page U-97. 

